A Wonderful Life! Coaching Blog

As a busy multi-tasking mom, I’m constantly looking for ways to organize my family life, days, goals, plans, appointments, thoughts…my life in general. Many of my friends who are also parents voice the same concern. The burning question for many, seems to be: “how do I balance parenting with my personal and/or business life?”

Time management for parents is a valuable tool. With all of the resources out there, how does one go about finding the right solution? Is there a solution? I believe there is, unfortunately, it’s not a quick fix. To me, the solution may very well be a hodgepodge of the various resources available. I’ve compiled a list of tips from the information I’ve found on time management in books and around the internet:

1. Balancing work and family life is a conscious decision. Understand that balancing family life with the other areas of our lives is a conscious, daily decision, not a timeless state of bliss that we’d love to exist in.
2. Clarify and prioritize family values. A value is defined as “a principle, standard, or quality considered worthwhile or desired.” This is important because our values drive our goals and actions and some values may be in conflict with one another. For example if you believe it’s important to get to work early, yet you also don’t leave the house until the kitchen is clean, this may cause a conflict. Determining the hierarchy of your values may help determine your actions.
3. Set realistic goals and expectations and learn to say ‘NO’. Understanding that perfection is unattainable, lifts the burden to accomplish everything. With values prioritized, goal setting is easier. Learning to say no is important because we cannot be all things to all people, and our children cannot have everything they want. When we remind ourselves of this, saying no is much easier.
4. Keep a time diary. Before creating a plan of action and a schedule, some suggest keeping a time diary. I would suggest doing so for a week to really give yourself an opportunity to analyze the rhythm of your days and to see where all of the time has gone. You can take this a step further, as this is your ‘pre-planning phase’. You can count the hours in a week and see how many are going towards the different values and goals you have. If you see the imbalance in your time diary, you can plan accordingly. This time diary gives you a visual analysis of your days. This is a task that I have my life coaching clients complete before we begin a program. A very effective tool anyone can use to organize their life.
5. Create a plan of action/schedule or rituals and routines. Determine the amount of time to allocate to different tasks, appointments and so forth and document them in a central calendar for everyone. Have your own personal and/or business calendar that you keep in sync with this central family calendar. (If the family is completely digital-on computers and smart phones-this may be accomplished through a free online shared calendaring system like Google Calendar). Creating rituals and routines in your household is helpful because children respond well to them. This also allows for daily tasks like getting ready for bed or school to be accomplished quicker because the rhythm of a routine has been established.
6. Manage distractions. Distractions like the phone, internet, or TV. When in the midst of completing a task, the phone rings. Do you answer it? Not every call needs to be answered immediately. With caller ID, and voicemail, you’re never out of the loop, so if necessary, instead of answering a call, completing tasks or continuing with family fun time, is a good idea.
7. Build a support team. Teach your children tasks, and delegate throughout the family. There’s nothing like teamwork!
8. Be flexible. Just because you have an amazing plan of action, doesn’t mean it will happen. Life happens!
9. Keep work at work and home at home. By separating the two, you are able to focus on each one within the allotted time.
10. Schedule down-time for yourself. Everyone needs a recharge. And just as children benefit from routines, so do we, especially if we know it’s sit back and relax time!

Do you have any time management tips you’d like to share?

Via Super Parenting Social Network

Often times we find ourselves needing a little motivation/inspiration. There are several texts that provide the tools necessary for one to feel not only motivated, also empowered. Feeling powerful is a key ingredient in our personal joy as well as our ability to set goals and our motivation to achieve them. As a motivational speaker and life coach, I’m constantly being asked for a reading list of this nature. As a result, I felt it prudent to write my Top Ten Inspirational Books to Live By. As I write each individual book review I will add a link to it here. So far I’ve only written a few. These are in no particular order and as life changes, so too may this list be subject to change. (more…)

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success qualifies as one of my Top Ten Essential Texts because it details the natural laws that govern our lives and how to harness their power for our personal success and happiness. When I say success, I use it in the same way that Deepak Chopra, the author intends it to be understood. Success means not only material wealth or gain, but also good health, energy and enthusiasm for life, fulfilling relationships, creative freedom, emotional and psychological stability, a sense of wellbeing and peace of mind.

In this way, we may understand success to be that which we are all striving for in our lives, and therefore this text, in its efforts, appears that much more relevant. (more…)

“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is a powerful quote that evokes thoughts of leadership, inspiration and motivation.  When I think of it, several ideas come to mind. There are obvious notions of one having the courage to be a trailblazer by forging ahead into the unknown. I also contend that this quote can mean something more simple in terms of our every day lives. I believe it alludes to how to feel happiness or joy as well. (more…)

As a professional basketball player in the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) and internationally for the past 10 years, believe me when I say that my body is battle tested. I have cuts, permanent bruising, surgeries and scar tissue to prove it. I had an ACL reconstruction on my left knee in 2003 and both of my knees were cleaned out with Arthroscopic surgery a year later. Needless to say, I feel like I have played 10 years. That being said, I can honestly say that I feel wonderful these days. My knees aren’t sore, and I don’t have any inflammation. Interestingly, however, I catch myself anticipating pain or a lack of range of motion when I do certain routine movements. I have such a recollection of all of the pain I have endured through the past few years of my recovery that I am in the habit of feeling pain. Instead of sitting and standing or putting on my pants like a pain-free person, I am expecting pain or an inability to do these actions smoothly. My mind and my body remember all too well, and it is sometimes funny to me that I continue on in this manner. I have to remind myself that I am OK and I feel good and I can do these things pain-free now. (more…)

That is the question isn’t it? Sure there are skeptics, aren’t they all skeptics? Unfortunately, that’s the problem, people tend to listen to them.We tend to allow the negativity and pessimism of others to seep into our subconscious. So much so, that we are unable to imagine something wonderful entering our lives even if it walked right through our front door. That’s how I view The Secret. If you were unaware of it, and someone revealed it to you through the book or DVD, it could feel as if something wonderful just walked right through your door. In fact, you may feel an insurmountable strength and joy once you know The Secret. You may realize that the world is yours. You may feel empowered… (more…)